The dozen astronauts -- eight from America, two from Russia and one from Italy -- crowded together to hear the president, who first addressed the US commander of the ISS, Scott Kelly, and Discovery shuttle commander Steve Lindsey.

"I wanted to call and say how personally proud I am of you and all that you are accomplishing. We are always inspired by the images of you guys at work," Obama said.

"You are setting such a great example with your dedication, your courage, your commitment to exploration. These are traits that built America and you guys personify them."

Taking note of how the ISS is currently host to vehicles and equipment from every participating agency, Obama praised the global astronauts' work ethic and their ability to keep all operations running with hardly a hitch.

"That is a pretty good metaphor for how we need to live and work together productively in space and maybe back here on Earth," Obama said.

"It is a great testament to the dedication of you and your colleagues, making the ISS function so smoothly, and that is something that all the countries in involved should be proud of."

Six American astronauts arrived last week aboard the space shuttle Discovery, on its final mission to the space lab before becoming the first of the three-shuttle fleet to retire this year.

Three Russians, an Italian and two Americans were already at the ISS, where they live and work on missions that last multiple months, when the Discovery crew arrived Saturday.

The Russian Soyuz space capsule, the US shuttle Discovery, the Japanese HTV and European ATV supply ships and the Canadian Dextre robot are all parked at the orbiting research lab.

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